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My Five Films You Don't Want To See After a Break-Up

2011-04-05T20:37:00.004-04:00

Just to clarify- no, I didn't break up with anyone recently nor did anyone break up with me. I'd have to be in something healthy enough to be called a relationship in the first place in order for the "breaking up" to occur. This is simply a list of films I feel would be the worse to check out alone at home while cuddling a blanket after a separation unless you want that knife to the heart to drive in a little deeper. Of course, spoilers alert! In alphabetical order, the depression-inducing works of art are:

The Break-Up (2006)

The first one's a freebie. While billed and marketed as comedy, it got real- real fast. The reason why this is a heartbreaker is because you simply didn't expect it to get that emotional wrenching. It almost felt like a personal attack when Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn verbally abused each other for a good 10 minutes after a light affair from the film. It was so "hard to watch" (thanks, Tracy Jordan), I can't help but swarm in my seat while reliving my arguments with my exes and compare.

Cast Away (2000)

This one's not as obvious. Solitude is not an easy thing, especially when you're closest pal is some volleyball. The gut wrenching portion of this one is not that he spend the entire time alone, but the one thing that's kept him sane is his wife back home is no longer there for him. Obviously, Chuck Noland is a stronger man than I simply because he somehow moves on gracefully. I, on the other hand, would have probably crawled into the fetal position and sob uncontrollably while cursing the world.

Closer (2004)

Pretty darn brutal. The truth sure hurts. Four very honest, no-holds-bar characters lays down the truth to their so-called significant others in this 2-hour entertaining punching bag adapted from the Tony-nominated play with the same name. After the infidelity of two of the characters, each word out of the everyone's mouths is a like venom- quick, sharp and stings like a mofo. Of course, that only means me thinking to myself "Damn, wished I should've said that."

High Fidelity (2000)

Self evaluation after a relationship is never easy. A lot of "Should I have done this", "Should I have done that" sets in when it all goes up in flames. Leave it to Rob Gordon, our hero, to brave the task of asking his former girlfriends what the hell went wrong. While emotionally touching with an relatively positive conclusion, it's the journey of Rob visiting his exes that triggers the inevitable self doubt and confidence. If there's anything to learned here is that you better surround yourself with a stinkin' good support system- even if they're weirdos.

A Single Man (2009)

The first lines of this film says it best: "For the past eight months waking up actually hurts. The cold realization that I am still here slowly sets in". Truer words cannot be spoken by a man filled with grief and heartbreak- though very different from a break up, the termination of a relationship is still there. Watching George Falconer's supposed last day of living could not feel more alone even when he's surrounded by people is beautiful, but no doubt depressing and reflective.

Of course, there are plenty of others film that would be appropriate for this list, these are simply the five I could think of off the top of my head. I'm curious to read what other films folks would consider. So fair warning, watch at your own risk. Just have a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates nearby.

My Cinematic Fantasy

2011-03-14T14:53:00.003-04:00

I'm just saying, if something like this happens to me while I'm over there- I wouldn't complain.

My Oscar Texts

2011-02-28T21:25:00.007-05:00

Here's a ceremony long text conversation between myself and Kyle. We were at different Oscar gatherings. Me being in New York, and him being in Florida, but with the constant back and forth, it felt like we were watching it together like we used to. Here's a few snippet from our so-called "Oscar commentary":

Kyle: Sorry you couldn't be here, but you will be watching with us.

Peter: Wow. Sooooo creepy. Hahaha.

Kyle: Yes. This will be the creepy Oscars.

Peter: Ummm... okay.

Peter: That was like some MTV opening montage. Younger Oscars!

Peter: Starting off with a very awkward acceptance speech for Art Direction.... nice. Sigh. Academy Award winner 'Alice In Wonderland'. 2 semi upsets so far... and we're off!

Kyle: Wow. Awesome. But does this bode well for 'The Social Network'?

Peter: I think so. I should've switched over. Regrets are starting. We'll know whenever film editing arrives.

Kyle: So glad for 'Inception' upset with cinematography. Willing to lose Oscar pool if 'Inception' continues to surprise.

Peter: But it's kinda sad Roger Deakins is still Oscarless, no?

Peter: I almost feel sad for Kirk Douglas. Maybe that's the point? A win for Leo!

Kyle: That's more like it. Douglas was awkward but memorable awkward. Like stories you tell about your kooky grandpa.

Peter: Uh...

Kyle: Love Franco's line to Melissa Leo. Felt like she was trying to make a moment. I think the F bomb was planned.

Peter: Yeah? Just judging from Leo's past speeches, maybe she's just that way. She her Spirit Award speech for 'Frozen River' a few years back.

Peter: And we're back on schedule in terms of winners with 'The King's Speech' winning only one so far.

Kyle: Umm... you think Seidler wrote that speech?

Peter: Props to Anne for throwing it all out there for a crappy, crappy number.

Peter: A ".com" shot out? A little low brow, no? That site is about to explode with traffic volume.

Kyle: On surface low brow, but really shows his admiration and dedication to the real life person.

Kyle: Wow. 'The King's Speech' weak again.

Peter: I sooo should have switched over for Best Picture. That montage clip for original score just made me more mad that Andrew Garfield was not nominated.

Kyle: Was Scarlett taking a nap in the back?

Peter: I think so.

Kyle: And next to McConaughey's tanning bed?

Kyle: Ugh. Burton reign of terror on the Oscars.

Peter: Also, 'Alice' has 2 Oscars. Someone here is asking why 'Lord of The Rings' is in the background after the winner's announced. I told them it's call bad producing.

Peter: This confirms it. All of Newman's songs sound the same.

Kyle: I think he wrote them all 12 years ago and just uses them as movies come up.

Peter: That Chuck guy and Mandy Moore are sounding (and looking) good.

Kyle: Best speech of the night.

Peter: I will gladly sit through another decade of crappy auto-tune for another one of those song montages.

Kyle: Franco seems high but I love his distant attitude though.

Peter: Me too. Took awhile for me to get used to. It kind of works with this "younger" Oscars.

Kyle: "You're all getting an Oscar!!!"

Peter: I will always love the way Jennifer Hudson mispronounces the word 'nominees'. NUM-MEN-NEESE!

Kyle: Is Kathie Griffin singing?

Peter: I don't think so. It's supposedly "country sensation" Gwyneth Paltrow. I don't get it. She did awesome at the Grammys. What happened!?!!

Peter: Did Randy Newman just complain about having 2 Oscars? He won for his worst 2 songs!

Kyle: Is he doing a Sean Penn/ 'I Am Sam' impression?

Peter: Oh. Low! I think he sounds the same rather he's singing or not.

Peter: Oh, Ms. Bigelow. What are you wearing!?!?! Wow. Hooper in it to win it.

Kyle: Wow. Can go to bed now. It's over.

Peter: Maybe 'The King's Speech' can squeak this out after all.

Kyle: C'mon, Inception!

Peter: Uh...

Kyle: Oh I know. Just wishin'.

Peter: The clip for Annette was more for Julianne than the actual nominee.

Kyle: Tinkerbell is nominated? (re: Williams)

Peter: Kudos to Natalie for naming crew! I so thought she was going to name my friend Tony, the script supervisor for 'Black Swan'.

Peter: Dance, Colin, Dance!

Kyle: What a very British speech.

Peter: Yeah. I said poise. Someone here said boring. LoL

Peter: There you go. 'The King's Speech' pulls it out. How about that?

Kyle: Not the sweep I expected, but it still got it. Okay, have to work at 4am. Have a good night!

Peter: Was fun and had fun!

Kyle: Good show.

Peter: Umm... sure. Night.

My Oscar Snacks & Predictions

2011-02-27T13:25:00.003-05:00

For as long as I can remember, my friends Kyle and Julie have been watching the Oscars together even though we live hundreds of miles apart. This would be the first year in awhile we won't be able to- I blame many things, but mostly my busy work schedule. But we're definitely keeping another one of our mini-traditions going, getting snacks themed after the Best Picture nominees. Who can forget the goodness that was Frosty Flakes cereal ('Frost/Nixon') with Milk ('Milk') or the shrimp cocktail ('District 9') with some Taco Bell ('The Blind Side')?

So we've distributed our nominees to year and I've been assigned 'Black Swan', 'The Fighter' and 'Winter's Bone'. Here's what I came up with:

Black and white cookies for our black and white swan.

A shot of Irish Monkey for our Irish Mickey.

A pile of wither chicken bones for our Winter's Bone. A huge stretch.

As for my Oscar predictions. I'm confident in all these except for Best Picture. I'm going with 'The King's Speech' for now but I'm feeling less and less secure about that with every moment. There could be a last minute switch to 'The Social Network' on my part:

Best Picture: The King's Speech

Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network

Best Lead Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech

Best Lead Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network

Best Original Screenplay: The King's Speech

Best Cinematography: True Grit

Best Film Editing: The Social Network

Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3

Best Foreign Language Film: Denmark

Best Documentary Feature: Inside Job

Best Art Direction: The King's Speech

Best Costume Design: The King's Speech

Best Make-Up Design: The Wolfman

Best Visual Effects: Inception

Best Sound Mixing: Inception

Best Sound Editing: Inception

Best Original Score: The Social Network

Best Original Song: 127 Hours

Best Short Live Action Film: Na Wewe

Best Short Animated Film: Madagascar, A Journey Diary

Best Short Documentary: Strangers No More

Happy Feasting!

My Top Ten 2010 Film Performances Not Nominated For An Oscar

2011-02-20T13:47:00.005-05:00

Wordy title, but pretty self explanatory. These are the gems not recognized by the group known as "The Academy"- they're sounding more and more like a higher force everyday, no? You might notice a shortage of female performances on this list. Don't fret, it's probably because most of my favorites were nominated close to a month ago (Leo, Kidman, Adams, Portman...). So in alphabetical order by film, they are:

Ryan Gosling- Blue Valentine

Richard Jenkins- Eat Pray Love

Olivia Williams- The Ghost Writer

James Franco- Howl

Xavier Dolan- I Killed My Mother

Ewan McGregor- I Love You, Phillip Morris

Julianne Moore- The Kids Are All Right

Andrew Garfield- Never Let Me Go

Leonardo DiCaprio- Shutter Island

Andrew Garfield- The Social Network

Sorry for the double dosing of Mr. Garfield... or am I? The guy had a stellar one-two punch that landed him the role of Peter Parker/Spiderman (still an odd choice, IMO). While I'm glad Michelle Williams and Annette Bening got recognized for their work, their onscreen partners's performances were nothing to sneeze at either. I'm just going to blame early and/or limited release for the snubbings of Olivia Williams, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ewan McGregor and Xavier Dolan- with the latter having to deal with being a teenager and a foreign-language performance. James Franco got in for his broader, more popular work but his portrayal as Allen Ginsberg had more of an emotional punch. And lastly, poor Richard Jenkins just got stuck being in a crappy movie about Julia Robert spending 2 hours proving she doesn't need a man only to sail off (literally) with one.

My Top Five Matt Saracen Moments on 'Friday Night Lights'

2011-02-10T13:58:00.003-05:00

The series finale to one of the least appreciated, if not the greatest, television show came to an end last night. Along with the conclusion of 'Friday Night Lights' came the end of the story of one Matt Saracen, my favorite character on FNL, as we know it. "Seven" as his friends (save for Landry) would call him is a character you can easily root for simply because there's so much good in him. Through the course of the show's five year run, there were plenty of moments where the character and his portrayer, Zach Gilford, shined and tugged at our heartstrings. Here's just five of them, spoilers ahead:

Season 1 Episode 9: "Full Hearts"

While on his first date with Julie, Matt receives a phone call from best friend

Landry that Grandma Saracen locked herself in the bathroom. Cutting his

date short, Matt rushes home and had to pretend to be his grandfather to

his dementia grandmother and sing her her favorite song.

Season 1 Episode 1: "Pilot"

After Panther star quarterback Jason Street goes down with a injury,

Coach Taylor, his teammates and the rest of Panther nation calls on Matt

to fill in with the once promising season on the line. Never even thrown a

football in a game, "Seven"'s hail mary was caught and the Panther's

path to glory is temporarily restored.

Season 2 Episode 14: "Jumping The Gun"

Good guy Matt spirals out of control after he realized his girlfriend

left him for a better life, his ex-girlfriend left him for a better guy,

his teammates abandoned him for a better quarterback and his father

left him to fight a war. After Coach Taylor throws him in a cold shower

to cool him down, Matt asks desperately "What is wrong with me?

Why does everybody leave me?".

Season 5 Episode 13: "Always"

Courting Julie Taylor for five years led to the ultimate proposal. In true

Matt Saracen fashion, he brought his girl to the Alamo Freeze, a local

hangout where he first told her he liked her, Matt got on one knee

with his grandmother's ring and propose to the girl of his dreams.

Season 4 Episode 5: "The Son"

Hearing his father had died in Iraq, Matt arrives at the Taylor household

in full composure after visiting the morgue to see his father before

crumbling into pieces. This scene perhaps sums up why Matt, and

in extension his portrayer Zach Gilford, is such a easy character to root for.

Thanks FNL, thanks for the memories.

My Top Ten Films of 2010

2011-01-26T23:21:00.006-05:00

Another Year. Another Top Ten list. Here's my two cents:

10.

"That's why I call myself Mr. Brainwash. It's because everything I do.... I brainwash your face!"

"Maybe your mother wasn't born to have a son."

"Hey there, Aron! Is it true that you didn't tell anyone where you were going?"

"We don't know how she got out of her room. It's as if she evaporated through the walls."

"You're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because

you're a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that

won't be true. It's because you're an asshole."

"It just seemed a lot more fun than donating blood. I'm I glad I did it."

"Why didn't he just make one? Another angel. I mean, he's God

after all. Why doesn't he just make another angel?"

"Dreams feel real while you're in them. It's only when we wake up that

we realize something was actually strange."

"Forty thousands years of human language and there's no word

to describe our relationship. We're doomed."

"Now Woody's been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's

brave like a cowboy should be. And kind, and smart. But the thing

that makes Woody special is that he'll never give up on you.... ever."

Another fine year in cinema.... See last year's list here.

My Last 48 Hours In Photos

2010-10-17T12:41:00.001-04:00

Yup. All real... in New Hampshire. I can hardly believe it myself.

I love autumn (and winter?) in Central New Hampshire.

My Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

2010-10-16T12:06:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago before I ventured off to New Hampshire (again), I finally got the chance to watch the much anticipated musical 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'- an emo take on this nation's seventh president. Sure, it's not exactly true to history and it's more than self aware- but it's definitely one of the more original shows currently playing on The Great White Way. Infused with high energy and a sense of humor that would make any of the new wave of theatre goers proud, the Alex Timber adaptation is more than just a fun Cliffnote history lesson. It's a jolt of electricity that continues to carry the raw emotional charge led from shows like 'Spring Awakening' and 'Next To Normal'.

My Celebrity Crush Of The Month (v.6.30.10)

2010-06-30T18:51:00.004-04:00

June 2010: Landon Donovan, 28, athlete

For getting a nation notorious for hating the world's most popular sport to rally together.

My Next Work Assignment

2010-05-31T14:45:00.003-04:00

The Granite State: My Home For the Next Month

My Top Ten Television Performances of The 2009-2010 Season

2010-05-31T03:51:00.003-04:00

As another television season wraps with the conclusion of May sweeps, it's time to reveal my ten favorite television performers from this past season. While some the shows from last year's list were represented again, there has been a change in many of them in terms of who represents them this time around. Without further ado:

10.

Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)

Continues to show fresh comic chops as the show's MVP.

Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Falling in love with Liz Lemon has never been so easy.

Neil Patrick Harris (The 2009 Tony Awards)

As natural of a television host can ever get.

Courteney Cox (Cougar Town)

Making us forget about Monica in one funny swoop.

January Jones (Mad Men)

Diving in head first as her character's plot thickens.

Jane Lynch (Glee)

Makes watching a singing and dancing villain so much fun.

Keir Gilchrist (The United States of Tara)

Taking full advantage of the common coming-of-age movement.

Portia De Rossi (Better Off Ted)

Deadpanning the brilliance of an over zealous character.

Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights)

Letting us believe cheering for teenagers to succeed is more than possible.

Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

As endearing as a lovable goofball can ever be.

My Quickies (v.5.31.10)

2010-05-31T02:44:00.003-04:00

- Super Bacon: And you thought the KFC Double Down was bad. Check out this bacon-stuffed, bacon-wrapped Italian sausage covered in BBQ sauce that you can get shipped to your door for $30. Barf. (Uncrate)

- Little Hung: Just when I thought MTV programming was starting to get redeeming, they managed to disgust me yet again by launching a fictional series about a well endowed teenage nerd whose popularity skyrockets after someone in his high school took a peek in locker room. (NYMag)

- 5,001 Of Your Closest Friends: Apparently some Facebook users claim the 5,000 friends limit per account is not enough. Maybe I'm just not that popular, but I'm not even sure I know 5,000 people... (NYT)

- Facebooking Your Kidnapped Daughter: More Facebook news- A Florida man is charged with kidnapping his children over 14 years ago and moving cross country after the birth mom discovered her now 17-year old daughter on Facebook and tracked her down from California. Strangest part, the daughter wants nothing to do with mom. (FOX)

- Evan Schlongoria: Before making it big in the big leagues, Tampa Bay Ray superstar Evan Longoria liked sending pictures of his penis to woman as a pickup technique. Of course, the then-minor leaguer didn't think twice about it and like 99% of the nude pictures ever taken, it shows up the internet. (Barstool)

- Celebrate Tonight: MVP candidate Kendry Morales of the LA Angels fractured his ankle during a celebration with his teammates at home plate following a walk-off grand slam. The earliest doctors says he'll be back to play is in September. Are there Darwin Awards for this stuff? (ESPN)

- Hobbits Panic!: After word of Guillermo Del Toro dropping out of directing 'The Hobbit' films, the scramble is on for fans who can't wait to see Bilbo Baggins and Gollum before all the Frodo took center stage. Is it me or this project cursed? (EW)

- Taking Crazy On The Road: As expected, Alice Ripley will depart 'Next To Normal' later this summer to gear up for the national tour reprising her Tony Award winning role as Diana. Between this and the recently departed Bobby Spencer, it'd appear the roadshow might be better than the open-ended production sitting on Broadway. (Playbill)

My Case For My Admission To The Looney Bin

2010-05-30T18:27:00.003-04:00

In a conversation between a friend and myself about relationships, this gem arose:

"My everyday thinking goes something like this: I'll text around noon to see if we can go out tonight. That gives 3 hours to think about how to do this. Wait, but noon might be too early. How about 2? Yeah, I'll go with two. No, 2:14, that's more casual and it wouldn't seem like I'm waiting for a specific time. Or should I just call? People like phone calls, right? It seems more personal and less cowardly. But what if the voicemail picks up? No, I can't talk to a machine. I'll probably just end up blabbering about nothing and come off more of a psycho. I should stick to texting. Yeah, text. I'll text. Should I start it with a ''Hey'? People like 'Heys'. I'd like a 'Hey'. Yeah, I'll do the Hey thing. At 2:14."

My 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years

2010-05-29T17:30:00.002-04:00

My 10 Reactions To Entertainment Weekly's 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years:

1. Homer Simpson is #1? He's not even the #1 character of the fictional Simpson family.

2. I suppose the same can be said for Rachel Green (#6) of the 'Friends' cast.

3. I was never a 'Lord of the Rings' fan, but seeing Bridget Jones (#16) ranked 20 spots ahead of Gollum (#36) is embarrassing.

4. Hancock (#91) made the list...

5. Other than Homer, the top ten seems pretty solid. Harry Potter (#2), Buffy (#3), Tony Soprano (#4) and Hannibal Lecter (#8) are all great mentions.

6. Sue Sylvester (#18!) has been around for 22 episodes and she's a greater television character than Brenda Walsh (unranked)- the ultimate high school bitch?

7. This list (and mine, I suppose) is rather ridiculous, but I digress.

8. I suppose I never thought of it that way, but I guess Woody (#25) is Pixar's most iconic figure.

9. I suppose I'm biased, but Effie White (#68) is the only film musical diva? Whoa. At least Elphaba (#79) clocked in. Where's Satine? Velma Kelly? Or... The Phantom!?!

10. I need to stop caring so much about EW's lists. They just get me mad.

My Super Mario Galaxy 2

2010-05-29T17:28:00.001-04:00

Buckling to purchase my first video game in YEARS is in no way a regret.

My First US Soccer Match

2010-05-29T17:21:00.003-04:00

After becoming a fan of the US Soccer Men National Team for over 8 years, I finally made it to my first match this past Tuesday in the World Cup Kick-0ff Series against Czech Republic in East Hartford, CT. Even for something as meaningless as an international friendly in which close to none of the regular starters played a minute, the atmosphere was by far the most electrifying as I've ever experienced in person for a sporting event. Never have my life been part of something so uniformly patriotic even in a 4-2 loss. The crowd eruption when the US team scored on a header from a corner kick was completely deafening and something I can't wait to experience again. Oh, I'm starting to regret not going to this year's World Cup already.

My Celebrity Crush Of The Month (v.5.28.10)

2010-05-28T03:06:00.003-04:00

May 2010: Sofia Vergara, 37, actress

This caliente Latina manages to effortlessly showcase the perfect blend of humor, beauty and brains with every minute of screen time she's given.

My Double Feature Review

2010-05-28T02:37:00.006-04:00

After not going to the movie theater in almost three months, I made a back-to-back (well, back-to-back weekend) effort to see a couple of summer blockbusters. And that's when I realized I don't miss going to the movies at all.

Shrek Forever After

The enticing part of watching this four-quel was not the content, but the fact that all I had to pay was $4.75 for a matinee at the Tallahassee AMC when I was in town for a wedding last weekend. Instead of completely soaked into the ogre-oriented fairytale like I was with the first two installments of the film, I found myself sitting there.. judging the catastrophe that has become this once creative franchise. The jokes were dull and elementary and the "what-if?" plot felt like a bad episode of the 90s sitcom "Dinosaurs". I suppose it didn't help that the sound system keep blowing out in the theater. Perhaps Walter over at Silver Screening Room is onto something, that AMC does suck hard at maintaining its facility. At least I got a voucher for a free admission to any AMC in the nation. $4.75 matinee in Tallahassee to $20 IMAX 3D in Lincoln Center.... not so bad for my troubles.

I was ready for Sex and the City 2 to suck. Everyone and every review has hammered this thing to the point of embarrassment. That doesn't stop me however to choose it as my first midnight screening of a film in close to two years. If I had known it was going to be 2 hours and 30 minutes long, I might have reconsidered, but watching four middle-aged women having fun dressed in ridiculously over the top costume would certainly be entertaining.

The biggest problem was the sequel is that it had no plot. 2 hours and 30 minutes of random occurrences by the four ladies. Starting with a gay wedding featuring an all-male choir and Liza Minnelli and ending with stock footage of an old black and white movie, it was the perfect example of what a "connect-the-dots" script looks like- while not boring, just nothing really happens besides the signature puns and innuendoes this franchise does so well. Perhaps my friend who went with me said it best- "There was so much eye-rolling from contrived over-the-top shenanigans, I didn't think to bother checking my watch."

The most amusing thing of the night was the four or five guys sitting next to us who looked like they were scouting for dates at the female-dominant crowd.

My Weddings Galore

2010-05-28T02:20:00.003-04:00

The last few weeks has been ridiculously busy. Between work and the various out-of-town trips, I barely to time to collect my own thoughts- not even having a moment to plot an entry or two on the ol' blog. So yeah, this is one of them personal thoughts blog entries. It's what happens when you're awake at 2:30 in the morning in the New York heat.

I attended my fourth wedding of 2010 this past weekend and am going to go to my fifth wedding this upcoming Memorial Day weekend. To top it off, there's three more to go after before the summer of weddings is over. Yes, I'm usually pretty good at going to these things without dates after getting lots of practice shortly after college of just showing up and fulfill my duties for the happy couple.

But man, maybe I'm getting old(er) or the age of the betrothed are getting younger, but it's starting to take its toll. Being single has its perks obviously but one has got to wonder when you're badgered by weddings after weddings, rather or not it's time to catch my designated fish in the sea everyone's talking about.

My Amazing Race 16 Wrap-Up

2010-05-09T22:19:00.003-04:00

So after traveling around five continents around the world, the winners for Season 16 of The Amazing Race is finally crowned. Just in case readers haven't gotten around to watching the thrill ride of a finale just yet, I'll refrain from revealing the winners until the end of this season recap blog. So, on to the awards!

Most Entertaining Team:

Team Cowboys

Every week they've managed to find ways to use their country charms to

turn their adventures in foreign countries into an episode of 'Howdy Doody'.

Runner-Ups: Team Brothers & Team Big Brother

Most Boring Team:

Team Father/Daughter

While likable, they had less charisma than teams that were eliminated

early on to the point their screentime didn't even exceed a minute.

Runner-Ups: Team Lawyers & Team Joe and Heidi

Most Likable Team:

Team Cowboys

Without a doubt, the fan favorites for this season.

Runner-Ups: Team Brothers & Team Big Brother

Least Likable Team:

Team Joe & Heidi

This one is all on Joe. He single-handedly put arrogance to a new level.

Runner-Ups: Team Models & Team Lesbians

Best Team Chemistry:

Team Brothers

No other team showed the kind of support for each other like these two.

They knew what the other was capable and not capable of doing and won't

push the envelope too far.

Runner-Ups: Team Cowboys & Team Detectives

The Luckiest Team:

Team Models

Each week became a head scratcher as fans wonder how these two

managed to fumble and tumble their way to the final three.

Runner-Ups: Team Cowboys & Team Brothers

Best Individual Player:

Steve (Team Father/Daughter)

Making wise decisions (leaving the backpacks) and good moves (ducktaping

that car), Steve seem to know what to do in all the right moments.

Runner-Ups: Jet (Team Cowboys) & Cord (Team Cowboys)

Worst Individual Player:

Jordan (Team Big Brother)

Didn't contribute once to the team and actually dragging the team behind,

forcing teammate Jeff to carry the weight until it became way too much.

Runner-Ups: Jody (Team Grandma/Granddaughter) and Adrian (Team Sweethearts)

Heroes:

Team Cowboys

The apparent frontrunners after 2 episodes, their clean game got them far

in midst of near-eliminations and obstacles.

Runner-Ups: Team Father/Daughter & Team Big Brothers

Villains:

Team Lesbians

They sure were mean, bitchy and judgmental. Brandy's Cruella Deville

impression might as well one of herself.

Runner-Ups: Team Models & Team Detectives

So there ya go. Another globe-trotting season of The Amazing Race. Regarding the finale, I had a strong inkling last week that Dan and Jordan would somehow manage to pull out this win. What I didn't expect was their initial catty-ness and cutthroat method to get there in the beginning, it's the strongest (and right) move and they shouldn't be judged for it. It's a million dollars, afterall! It turns out Brent & Caite were no factor at all and it appears the virtual reality world was too much for Jet & Cord to overcome.

My Teaser

2010-05-08T14:02:00.002-04:00

Yes, it's still happening. Very close to completion. Very close.

My Music Meme

2010-05-08T10:59:00.006-04:00

My words fumble more so than usual when talking about music. It's just that I usually don't know what to say due to my weak knowledge of the genre- either that, or I'm simply embarrassed by my preferences because they're usually pretty generic. Either way, I believe it's time to take a step out of my box and reveal all the cheesy goodness when it comes to my iTunes. Thanks for Andrew for giving me that extra push over the ledge.

1. Hit shuffle on your iTunes, what's the first song to play?

'Back 2 Good' by Matchbox Twenty. Okay, this one wasn't too bad. There are definitely worse things that could've played.

2. Name Your Top Five Musicians/Bands of All-Time.

Okay, here is where it starts to go south. I'm going with the every four years approach on this question. Starting at the age of 7 until now, I'll list my favorite artist for every four year span. I was obsessed with New Kids on the Block or NKOTB as they were later known when I was 7-11 From middle school (mid-90s), I couldn't get enough of Mariah Carey. Oh, how I miss the Mariah of old. Onto high school where I somehow avoided the grunge era and won't with the goodness that was Third Eye Blind. 'Jumper' still get plenty of hits on my iPod. In college (early 00s), you throw in the first beats of any Beyonce song and I'll be ready to go and post college, well... it's tricky, I guess my favorite artist to come out of the last four years is the Gaga.

3. What was the first 8 track/record/CD/cassette/MP3 you own?

The thought that there are some kids out there that will never own even a CD is horrifying. I always liked physically holding my music and I physically held the Backstreet Boys' debut album first. Yes, I'm on Team BSB.

4. Of all the bands/artists in your collection, which one do you own the most albums by?

Going with longevity, The Beatles. That's probably because they were around the longest.

5. What was the last song you listened to?

6. What song sums you up?

None. It really depends on my mood. Sometimes I could feel like Tubthumping, some other times I feel like Stayin' Alive, or listening to Music of the Night... and on rare occasions, I feel like One Less Lonely Girl.

7. What's your favorite local band or band that originated from your area?

Oh boy, the choices for a Brooklyn-ite are endless. Let's go the hipster and indie route and say Here We Go Magic. They're probably not my favorite band ever to come out of this fine borough, but they're certainly on my mind.

8. What's the greatest concert you've ever been to?

Yikes. I haven't been to a concert in ages and honestly, none of the ones I've been to before can qualify as "the greatest".

9. Which musician would you like to hang out with for a day?

Adam Guettel and I would have plenty to talk about. He'll do most of the talking since I'm curious as to how someone can write such a beautiful composition and lyrics to go along with it.

10. What was the greatest decade for the music?

I love the '90s probably because that's when I came out of my shell. Besides that, I'm in love with '20s jazz.

11. What is your favorite music soundtrack?

Finally, a question I'm not struggling to answer.

12. What the worst CD/album you've ever bought?

How I regret purchasing Aqua's album.

13. What your favorite band/artist t-shirt or poster?

I used to love Bebo Norman 'Big Blue Sky' t-shirt.

14. Rolling Stones or The Beatles?

Even I can tell this is another easy one.

15. What is the one song you'd like to be played during your funeral, birthday and a date?

I'm going to go with some recent showtunes for all three.

Funeral: That's right bitches, I'll be coming back to haunt ya'll.

Birthday: I love me some cheesy dance party.

Date: Perfect description of a much anticipated date, minus the prancing around.

The surprising thing is how the three are interchangeable.

My Quickies (v.5.7.10)

2010-05-07T14:55:00.002-04:00

- Full Eyes, Clear Hearts, Can't Lose: While the fourth season of Friday Night Lights has already aired on DirecTV last winter, the network broadcast premiere on NBC begins tonight. Get ready for the show's best season since its freshman effort. (NBC)

- The "Bieber": Similar to "The Rachel" haircut of the 90s, Justin Bieber's haircut became very popular with the tween boys community- except they're too embarrassed to ask "The Bieber" at their local barbershops. (NYT)

- Same Ol' Love Story: Believing firmly of the "Don't fix what's not broken" philsophy, Taylor Swift tells MTV that her third album will be about "boys and love". (MTV)

- Twilight Yo' Babies: The US Department of Social Security released the most popular baby names from last year and surprised... Isabella and Jacob are on the top of the list. Take that, Team Edward! (SSA)

- Hey Stella!: Rachel Weisz is rumored to be part of the latest Broadway revival of A Streetcar Named Desire next season playing Blanche DuBois. She seems more like a Stella to me, so why not cast her there and get Cate Blanchett back as the feisty psycho diva? (Playbill)

- More Euphemisms: Hearing about opponents of gay marriage caught in gay sex scandals no longer surprise me. The latest being George Alan Rekers who hired an escort off Rentboy.com for his European trip because he "can't lift luggage", whatever that means. The escort said Rekers paid for plenty of nude massages including "The long stroke", whatever that means as well. (NYDN)

- Canadian Football: Major League Soccer just announced Montreal is join their league in the 2012 season after Portland and Vancouver start their inaugural campaigns next season. With Toronto in the mix already since 2007, there are now more professional soccer teams in Canada than basketball and baseball. (ESPN)

- No Sexting Zone: I'm not sure how research is done, but a recent study claims that 1 in 10 people under the age of 25 says it's okay to text during sex. The mental image is frightening. (Advertising Age)

My Oscar Bait Trailer

2010-05-06T09:53:00.002-04:00

The only thing I can think of that's missing from this trailer is a full-on musical number. Even without so, it's oh-so-true in so many ways and hilarious because of it. My favorite part being "Lead female's name!". So, can you think of any Best Picture winners that could literally just plug in dialogue from their film to this trailer?

My Instant Reaction to the Tony Awards Nominations

2010-05-04T09:04:00.005-04:00

Ah. Tony nomination morning is almost as exciting as Oscar nomination morning. Okay, maybe not. Perhaps he excitement level is equivalent to that of maybe the Golden Globes' nomination announcement, which is a fitting comparison considering how both are notorious for favoring big names to the point when they snub them (a la Julia Roberts), it's bigger news than the folks that actually got nominations.

But guess what, the Tony committee resisted the urge to draw in audience by giving every big name with a mediocre performance a free pass this year. No Nathan Lane, no Hugh Jackman, no Daniel Craig, no Kristin Chenoweth, no Bebe Neuwirth and no Vanessa Williams. Not even theatre favorites Cheyenne Jackson and John Gallagher Jr. broke through. They even favored shows that closed months ago (Ragtime, Finian's Rainbow) as opposed to ones that are brand spankin' new (Promises, Promises).

Granted, the leading actor in a play category reads like a who's who of Hollywood "actor-dom", but the word of mouth on these performances were strong from the get-go and supposedly well deserved.

The biggest shocker for me this morning was how American Idiot mustered up only three nominations, none for their actors or even director Michael Mayer, but somehow still managed to get the golden Best Musical nod- a prerequisite if you want to perform during the Tony telecast. Were the committee not convinced it's not a modern incarnation of the recent heralded Spring Awakening? Well, at least The Addams Family failed to get in on the fun, making this the first time in six years that a musical based on a film is not nominated in the category. Another amusing bit is that Jay-Z is now a Tony nominee for producing 11-time nominated Fela!.

A quick look at the rest of the nominees indicates Fela! is undoubtedly the frontrunner, though I'll be routing for Memphis myself, while Red and Fences are leading things on the play side. Watch out for my predictions later this month, but for now check out the full list of nominees here.

My Ke$ha Simpsons Parody

2010-05-03T11:19:00.002-04:00

Win. Just one question, why Ke$ha?

My Amazing Race Rankings (Week 11)

2010-05-03T04:51:00.009-04:00

After the first episode of this season of The Amazing Race, my picks to make it to the final three were The Cowboys (Jet & Cord), Father/Daughter team (Steve & Allie) and Team Lesbians (Carol & Brandy). One out of three ain't too bad, and if it wasn't for a non-elimination leg, I would've gone 0-for-3.

Last night, the teams continue their trek around Shanghai, where more cabbie trouble ensued and more cultural insults were made. At the end, it was Michael & Louie, who were the only team this season to win three consecutive legs, that got Phil-iminated. So here we are, three teams with not one racer over the age of 30, racing from Shanghai to San Francisco for a million dollars. In alphabetical order, they are:

Brent & Caite

"Team Models"

# of Times Finished First: Once (Week 11, Shanghai)

Strongest Leg: Week 10, Shanghai. Even though they came in second, they didn't make a single mistake.

Weakest Leg: Week 4, Germany. It was not pretty for the models when they started the leg in a hospital room and ending the day with Caite's bad leg.

Stronger Player: Brent

Strengths: Determination when applied, being at the right place at the right time & good ol' fashion player hating.

Weaknesses: Bickering, counting (Caite) and not reading directions.

Summary: The bickering couple starting the race relatively weak, but as their

annoyance factor raised, so did their game.

Odds To Win It All: 1 to 3

Dan & Jordan

"Team Brothers"

# of Times Finished First: Once (Week 9, Singapore)

Strongest Leg: Week 7, The Seychelles. Even though they came in second, they proved their bond and what they were capable of.

Weakest Leg: Week 2, Chile. Not even remotely close to warmed up and not knowing how to drive a stick shift were nearly fatal.

Stronger Player: Dan

Strengths: Knowing what the other person is capable of, constant encouragement & flying under the radar

Weaknesses: Foreign languages, stick shifts & being caught too laid back

Summary: Not many people gave these two any chance to go this far, but the adorable brothers and their support for each other got them here with some very sporadic results.

Odds To Win It All: 1 to 5

Jet & Cord

"Team Cowboys"

# of Times Finished First: Four (Week 2, Chile; Week 3, Argentina,

Week 8, Malaysia & Week 10, Shanghai)

Strongest Leg: Week 8, Malaysia. Going from last to first with a speed bump, they only saw one team for 30 seconds before dusting them to the pit stop.

Weakest Leg: Week 7, The Seychelles. They made too many mistakes and were spared elimination. The only time these two showed frustration during the race.

Stronger Player: Jet

Strengths: Staying calm under pressure, attention to details, and... well, everything?

Weaknesses: Besides being caught outside of their comfort zone. Street smarts.

Summary: The fan favorites are also the favorites to win them all. Running strong legs after strong legs, minor blips and all haven't slowed them down yet.

Odds To Win It All: 3 to 5

So there you have it, which team do you think will take it all? Will Jet & Cord's dominance continue? Can Brent & Caite actually pull this off with bitterness driving them? Can Dan & Jordan fly under the radar to pull off the upset? My pick? As much as I'd love to see Jet & Cord ride into the sunset as champions, I can't help but shake off the feeling Dan & Jordan are going to win it all.

My Glittery Rivalry

2010-05-01T02:25:00.005-04:00

In many ways, the longtime rivalry between Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir is hilarious to me. The two male figure skaters and their war of words continue to escalate this past week when their respective popularity is at an all-time high after the Winter Olympics where Lysacek took home the gold medal. Oh these boys just need to take out their sparkly rulers and get it over with. Here's a brief rundown of the latest episode of what I like to call The War On Ice:

1. The 'Stars on Ice' organization invited Evan but not Johnny for their post-Olympics US tour.

2. Johnny Weir cries foul and reveals the 'Stars on Ice' committee told him he was not 'family friendly' enough.

3. When prompted by The Indianapolis Star about the situation, Evan says "they are very selective about who they pick" and that they "only hire the best to skate."

4. In response, Johnny went on The Wendy Williams Show and calls Evan a "slore", the lethal combination of 'slut' and 'whore', in regards to Evan dumping Johnny's best friend and fellow figure skater Tanith Belbin for US Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin.

5. Johnny tells People that the two "are at war" and "the claws are out" before telling people not to vote for him on Dancing With The Stars.

6. Evan releases a statement calling Weir "an accomplished and talented skater" and apologizes for the remarks he made during the interview.

Someone should really turn all this into a movie, oh wait- they did.

My Cliffhanger Strategy

2010-05-01T01:50:00.003-04:00

Disney is employing the cliffhanger strategy for this summer's Pixar film 'Toy Story 3', releasing only the first 65 minutes of the film in college markets before cutting to black and sending the audience home. A few questions come to mind when I heard about this. Why would 'Toy Story 3' need a risky marketing tool when it's one of the surest blockbuster hits on the summer? Are college kids really the demographic they're concerned about? And is this overall a good idea?

Another thing I have to wonder if that if I would want to pay for a full price ticket when the film is actually release so I could sit through the first half of the film again just to see the second half. I don't think I have the patience for that- especially for a film I'm eagerly anticipating. I can't help but think of this ploy being similar to theatre (shocker!), where the audience has the option to walk out during the intermission if they deem they longer want to see the rest of the show after the first act. (NYT)

My Australian Fake Out

2010-04-28T19:36:00.001-04:00

Reason #88 Why I'm Not Badass: Fooled by the charming Australian accent yet again.

My Quickies (v.4.28.10)

2010-04-28T18:15:00.006-04:00

- Casual Friday Everyday: Details Magazine gave ten suggestions to folks who don't want to wear pants to work, though there's a creepiness factor about being nude inside a Barney Dinosaur costume while surrounded by kids. (Details)

- CSI: Apple: Jason Chen, editor of Gizmodo- the site that leaked information about the upcoming iPhone, came home to find detectives has ransacked his place and seized his computers, hard drives and digital cameras. Now why can't the police be this adamant about other, more tragic investigations? (NYDN)

- Girl Scout Cookie Spokesperson: Following his television debut during last week's SNL Weekend Update, fans suddenly became obsessed with getting John Mulaney more camera time. Honestly, I thought he was a bit dull, this New York magazine interview just confirms it.

- Trumpin' Races: It's no secret I'm a huge fan of 'The Amazing Race', and now it's no secret Donald Trump is jealous of the globetrotting show winning seven straights Emmys for Outstanding Reality Competition Program calling it "undeserving". Mr. Trump, your show had Sinbad on... Sinbad! You don't win Emmys with Sinbad! (EW)

- US Soccer Glory?: ESPN debates rather we'll see United States winning the World Cup in my lifetime. It's intriguing and filled with both optimism and a defeatist attitude. Also, the latest FIFA Rankings show the Yanks jumped two spots and is now ranked #14 in the world. (ESPN)

- Golden Host: Ricky Gervais has been invited back to host the Golden Globes again next year. I think this is an excellent decision and hopefully will become a tradition like Bob Hope and the Oscars. Mel Gibson, you've been warned. (Zap2It)

- High Art: A Georgia man is arrested about selling fake vintage horror posters to collectors, swindling over $1 million in the process. (NYT)

- All About The Green: 'American Idiot', the Green Day musical, is deemed a bonafide hit after grossing close to $780K last week on The Great White Way. The sad part of this is that 'The Addams Family', a show that was critically panned made close to twice that amount, coming in at $1.4 million. (EW)

My N2N Cast Changes

2010-04-28T01:09:00.006-04:00

Yes, this is indeed your biweekly blog entry about 'Next To Normal'. I went ahead and saw the newly minted Pulitzer Prize winner again this past Monday and realized something. Due to replacements and understudies- I haven't seen the same cast combination once out of the five times I've seen this show.... that and I forked over more than $300, but I try to think positive.

Since I've always admired the intensity and feistiness Alice Ripley pours into Diana, it was a little jarring when her understudy Jessica Phillips portrays it a little more tame but with a lot more emotions. It took all of the first act for me to get used to Phillips, but as soon as the second act opened up, I was game for her idea of Diana being in a much deeper internal pain. If the rumors are true that Phillips will eventually replace Ripley, I think I'll be okay with it. I can deal with painfully tragic women.

The thing I miss most about Aaron Tveit's version of Gabe is the boyish charms he brings to a rather innocent character, not to mention his confidence on stage commands audience attention. The first time I saw Kyle Dean Massey's Gabe, it was his second show back and he had a cold and sounded nasally- very apparent when he has to go toe-to-toe with Alice Ripley & Bobby Spencer during "You Don't Know/I Am The One". This repeated viewing of a healthier Massey was such a drastic improvement. His Gabe is more haunting and sly, with the sort of charisma necessary for a heartthrob. Maybe it's the way he looks at you with those deep socket eyes like he's trying to undress you and buy you flowers at the same time.

Finally, Dan has always been my favorite character in the show. I love how caring and protective he is of his clan and much of it has to do with Bobby Spencer. He makes my eyes watery every time during "A Light In The Dark" and again during "I Am The One (Reprise)", one time I actually heard half the theatre sobbing during the latter number. The idea of going to see the show again was because Spencer would be departing the production and the man who would be replacing Spencer is the man Spencer himself replaced during the show's transition from Off-Broadway to Broadway, Brian Darcy James- who opted to do 'Shrek: The Musical' instead of this. I've heard good things about James's version of Dan and I look forward to seeing it later this fall/winter.

So am I ready to call 'Next To Normal' my favorite stage production of all-time over 'The Light In The Piazza'? Umm... yes. Yes, I am. Though things might change again whenever Matthew Morrison and Kelli O'Hara decide to share the stage again for my amusement.

Also, believe it or not, another musical that's no longer on Broadway actually got more repeated viewings out of me (Nope, not 'Piazza'), but it's far too embarrassing to admit- even on the interwebs.

My Warm Fuzzy Commercial

2010-04-27T21:36:00.003-04:00

Warm Fuzzies. Part 2.

My Subway Rats

2010-04-27T03:33:00.005-04:00

According to some Upper East Side residents, the recent surge of large rats running around in their neighborhood is due to the underground construction for the upcoming 2nd Avenue train. While the MTA isn't dismissing the idea, they're telling concerned residents that there might be another reason for the rats- like, they live in New York City and there's an abandon building down the block from them. Okay, so they didn't say those exact words, but the idea is there.

I usually hate the MTA, but I'm with them on this one. What bugs me even more is that one resident says seeing rats on the streets until 2018, the estimated finish date of the 2nd Avenue project, is "a living hell". To which I reply, people in the slums of third world countries are in a living hell, rich white ladies on the UES who sees an occasional rat on the street and complains about it just need a massage appointment at a day spa. They're just rats, they're gross and disgusting but I'm sure some pampering will take you out of your "hell". So let's not go overboard, I'll even go to Bliss with you... but you have to pay since imma broke and yous lives on the Upper East Side. (WSJ)

My Gabourey Sidibe

2010-04-27T03:23:00.004-04:00

Gabourey Sidibe got a lot of flack (check comment section) for some of her miscues during last week's SNL. Sure, she flubbed some lines here and there- but how many hosts prior to her has done the same thing? Let's face it, SNL hasn't been funny in a long time and a huge part of it has to do with the writing. So let's not blame Gabby, who gave it her all, for another dud episode. I personally liked her opening monologue in which I want her to chalk up as her personal theme song. The other bright spot? When Bill Hader couldn't hold in the giggles during his segment on the Weekend Update.

My Concert Drunk

2010-04-26T03:03:00.001-04:00

A few days late, but this still cracks me up everytime I watch it:

My Celebrity Crush Of The Month (v.4.26.10)

2010-04-26T01:47:00.002-04:00

April 2010: Jay Brannan, 28, musician

Soulful and grounded, Brannan's music & lyrics is a much welcomed addition to my music collection that speaks right from the heart.

My Amazing Race Rankings (Week 10)

2010-04-26T01:28:00.003-04:00

I so wanted this leg of the race to be an elimination one for many reasons. One, I wanted to knock off Mike and Louie because they're the strongest team outside of the Cowboys and two, I'd love to see the drama at Elimination Station between the cops and Joe, who they U-Turned all those weeks ago in France. But alas, no such luck. Maybe next week. Anyway, here's how I like them:

I'll be forever anxious during each episode until Phil tells them they're safe.

Jordan cries this week, Daniel throws a tantrum next week. These

guys are sure not liking China so far.

Spared elimination. Michael's probably thinking puzzles suck.

How these two remain in the race is beyond me. I'm sure their steady

improvement and dumb luck will get them into the final three.

Best Line of the Night: "Tranquil? What does that mean?" - Cord

Best Move: Jet using that "secret ingredient", flour, to assist with his road block.

Worst Move: Mike & Louie not realizing all they had to do was to go through the doors for their next challenge.

My First Encounter With The Double Down Sandwich

2010-04-20T17:44:00.003-04:00

Nope, still no upchuck yet.

My Overhead on Set

2010-04-20T04:03:00.003-04:00

Best Boy: Dude, that chick is bangin'.

Gaffer: She's wearing a giraffe costume.

Best Boy: So? I'd tap that.

I knew I was different...

My Ten Cinematic Facts

2010-04-20T03:14:00.005-04:00

Despite knowing the cheese factor, I'm a sucker for interactive blogs. So when fellow Seminole (FSU Holla!) Walter over at The Silver Screening Room tagged me to blog ten cinema facts about myself, I jumped at the opportunity to do what I do best- talk about me. Also, I have the utmost respect for anyone who hates the AMC in Tallahassee more than I do.

1. My first movie at the theater was 'The Land Before Time'. I was so not emotionally ready for the dramatic elements cartoons had to offer so I cried so loud and hard in that dark room when the mother died, my dad had to escort me out due to embarrassment.

2. Not that I have any acting ambition, but if I had to play one role in the history of films, I would choose Conrad Jarret from 'Ordinary People'- he's so complex, tortured and all too relatable... minus the death of a brother thing.

3. I have a very unhealthy crush on the late Marlon Brando and currently have five posters/memorabilia hanging on my bedroom walls- including the original Playbill from the 'A Streetcar Named Desire' Broadway production and a canvas photo still from the film production.

4. The first VHS I ever bought with my own allowance was the straight-to-video Aladdin sequel 'The Return to Jafar'. I still remember it was $19.91 before tax at the Waldbaum's Supermarket that has now been replaced by a Best Buy down the street from my house.

5. If I ever make my own film and had the powers to do so, I would cast Barry Pepper and Guy Pearce in a heartbeat. Even though they're not my favorite actors, I have a deep appreciation (and misguided sympathy) for the two actors.

6. My favorite movie theater in the world is the Clearview Ziegfeld in Midtown Manhattan. My least favorite is the AMC/Loews in Kings Plaza Mall- it smells like urine, gangsta and prune juice.

7. I used to think it was cool that I memorized the entire 'Jerry Maguire' script was I was younger. I'm still waiting for a real life moment where I can use a similar/converse line to "That's more than a dress, that's an Audrey Hepburn'' movie on a date.

8. The only film I've ever seen twice in one the same day at the theater was 'Birthday Girl'... oh that's right, I said the little seen Nicole Kidman/Ben Chaplin starrer 'Birthday Girl'. The film I've seen the most times at the theater is 'Black Hawk Down'... oh that's right, I said 'Black Hawk Down'.

9. I know 'Syriana' was suppose to be important and relevant, but I just don't know why.

10. A little more personal, but I'm still waiting to work on a project I'm completely passionate about and gets me excited to go on set everyday. Granted, I love a lot of the people I've worked with in the past and present but I wish I could work on a project where I fall head over heels for. Conversely, I've worked on some crappy shoots and there's nothing worse than script supervising a feature you don't believe in and having to know and memorize all the little details inside out.

Okay, I won't subject anyone to continue this madness for my sake, so I'm not going to tag anyone. It's all about me. See? I am just that conceited.

My Quickies (v.4.20.10)

2010-04-20T02:41:00.003-04:00

- Knapp-ed Out: Christian music singer Jennifer Knapp reveals she's a lesbian. Ready for a backlash, Knapp prepares herself to get back into the biz after a seven year absence- only doing it with more secular material. So it confirms my gaydar's effectiveness at one of her shows (with Bebo!) ten years ago. (Washington Post)

- Best iPad Sponsor Ever: Norway Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was seen stranded at JFK airport and told the press he's running his country from new brand new iPad while the ash clouds over Europe clear out. Another sign that the technology showcased in 'Minority Report' was closer to reality than most anticipated. (NYDN)

- Olympic-Size Debt: It appears it's not just the host cities/countries that the Olympics send into huge debts. NBC announced broadcasting this year's Winter Games set them back $223 million dollars. (AP)

- Baywatch-ed Return: Though I'm sure I'm using the term "bigger star" loosely, what's with the deal of "bigger stars" going back to soap operas? David Hasselhoff agrees to return to 'The Young & The Restless' for a one-day storyarc. (EW)

- Proud Vlogger: Check out British vlogger Johnny Durham's poignant and funny video response to questions he's been asked regarding his sexuality.

- Cracker Jacks & Upchuck: Proving Philadelphia Phillies fans are the grossest cheerers is sports, a man was arrested after he vomited on an 11-year old girl in the stands last week at a game during a fight. (ESPN)

- Apple Release: Someone at Apple is getting fired this morning. An actual iPhone 4.0 model was found and the tech site Gizmondo dissected and analyzed it for all the geeks out there (myself included). Best feature? Video camera on both sides of the phone! (Engadget)

- More Pulitzer Drama: Ben Brantley and his defeatist attitude continues the ongoing backlash against 'Next To Normal' winning this year's Pulitzer Prize for Drama. I haven't seen this much awards bashing for the stage since Julie Andrews' tirade back in her 'Victor/Victoria' days. (NYT)

My Random Thought of the Night

2010-04-18T22:14:00.003-04:00

Should I really be this annoyed some country music awards show pre-empted this week's 'The Amazing Race'? Maybe I should stop watching reality competition shows..... or protest by starting a bonfire with CDs from Lady Antebellum. That's a thing, right?

My Ke$ha Tranny

2010-04-17T19:00:00.003-04:00

I've never been a fan of Ke$ha. Maybe it's due to the fact she has a dollar sign in her name and pronounces 'Ka-esha' as oppose to 'Key-sha'. Either way, this promo for tonight's very skippable SNL with host Ryan Philippe (what has he been doing since the Reese Witherspoon breakup!?!) makes Ke$ha look like a tranny.

My Dinner Theatre

2010-04-14T23:19:00.009-04:00

Pops insisted on having dinner at a restaurant named 'Fu Kee', a name worthy of Engrish, on 86th Street since they have a $10 for 2 lobsters special if you dine in. Yes, $10 for 2 whole lobsters. So here we are, father and son, chowing down on our lobsters when I overheard a conversation at the next table between an Asian teenager and a middle aged white woman:

Teenage Daughter: There's this party tomorrow night I want to go to.

Step-Mom: Isn't it a school night?

Daughter: Yeah, but it's going to be a great party.

Step-Mom: What's the party for?

Daughter: No reason.

Step-Mom: So there's going to be a great party for no reason.

Daughter: There's no need for a reason to have a great party. People can just have parties now. It's not like back in your generation when people only get together for birthdays and bar mitzvahs.

Step-Mom: (agitated) Well, kids this generation flash their private parts for an iPod at parties!

Daughter: (disgusted) It's iPad!

Lobster AND comedy, what a fun night at Fu Kee! And to my surprise, I didn't throw up afterwards.

My Soda Voucher

2010-04-14T15:42:00.002-04:00

I'm going to say I like this idea. In an attempt to get kids and families to stop drinking sodas and other non-organic sugary drinks, the Alliance for Healthier New York is conducting a buy-back of sodas for money vouchers useful at farmer's markets. On paper, it seems like a great idea and alternative to the proposed taxing of soda and sugary drinks since it will stimulate the farmer's market economy in the same way a gift card works and it will only encourage families to trade in their 99 cent 2-liters for a $6 voucher and a regular can of soda for a $3 one. Hopefully this Brooklyn experiment will garner enough participants to bring awareness and delay the what seems like an inevitable "fat tax" on sodas. The obvious con? People hoarding sodas as if it's the new currency. (NYDN)

My Michael Bradley

2010-04-14T00:48:00.002-04:00

Finally, a major sports outlet highlights my favorite player on the US National Soccer Team, Michael Bradley. It highlights the shadows Bradley has by being the coach's son and becoming his own person and player on the field while maintaining his inner menace. I find it fascinating how aggressive Bradley is off the field as well in terms of his attitude towards life. When asked why he rarely smiles, he simply replies "I smile when we win, after the game." Sounds like a very intense guy with some daddy issues. Kudos to the folks over at ESPN for showcasing a small part of the future of American Soccer and making me that much more excited for the start of upcoming World Cup in a couple of months!

My Spring Premiere of Glee

2010-04-13T22:35:00.004-04:00

Quick Analysis: A rather underwhelming episode with all the hype, the FOX promos department felt it was necessary to sneak peek next week's Madonna-themed episode by showing Jane Lynch's cover of 'Vogue'. It's very apparent where the back nine episodes are going to focus on and it doesn't vary much from the front 13.

Broadway enthusiasts like myself were salivating over the reunion of 'Spring Awakening' stars Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff and the addition of Idina Menzel ('Wicked'). While it's still very early and not much can be read from Groff and Menzel's characters from one episode, I was hoping for more and definitely at least one showstopper number besides 'Vogue'.

I'm sure next week's Madonna episode will undoubtedly be fun and hilarious, but just for this week, it appears the hype exceeded the content.

My 2010 Pulitzer Prize For Drama

2010-04-13T17:16:00.005-04:00

For only the eighth time since 1918, a musical has won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. 'Next To Normal' pulled a surprised upset over three nominated plays to become what is essentially a write-in vote victory. The last musical to claim this prize was Jonathan Larson's 'Rent' in 1996. This year's prize did not come without controversy. The before mentioned winning from a non-nominated status is equivalent to the Academy Award picking 'Wall-E' to be Best Picture last year. Also, the musical debuted in 2008, instead of 2009, during its off-Broadway run and had many critics and predictors deeming it ineligible.

I've made it no secret how much I adore this musical, closing the gap as my favorite stage production to 'The Light In The Piazza' with each listen of the cast recording. I couldn't be happier to see the heart wrenching musical win the prize despite losing Best Musical last year to 'Billy Elliott'. (Playbill)

My Quickies (v.4.12.10)

2010-04-12T13:49:00.004-04:00

- Where's Charlie?: The NY Daily News did a 'Where Are They Now?' featuring the original cast of the classic film 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'. Something about the guy who played Augustus being an accountant makes perfect sense. (NYDN)

- Defending Tiger: Jim Carrey manages to blame Elin Nordegren for Tiger Wood's affairs since she "had to be a willing participant". And the douchbag of the day is... (E!)

- 'FNL' Fresh Meat: 'Friday Night Lights' continues to be realistic and rotate its high school cast by adding a hipster character who fell into football. Though a hipster in Smalltown Texas might stretch that realistic thing a bit. (EW)

- Fake Prom: At what lengths will the town of Itawamba, Mississippi go to to not allowing lesbian teenager Constance McMillen to bring her girlfriend her high school prom? Staging a fake prom (that including disabled kids) while holding a secret prom for all the 'normal' kids. Like I've always said, sometimes you just have to wait for all the ignorant people to die off before the world can be a better place. (Huffington Post)

- As The Pyramid Turns: CBS is mulling over the idea of replacing their cancelled soap 'As The World Turns' with the classic gameshow, Pyramid. Judging from the poor ratings of 'Let's Make A Deal', they might as well filed this under "Things That Are Obviously Timeslot Fillers'. (EW)

- Hookers Or Us: An Ohio man was arrested after he reported to the police he had $50 stolen from him at a White Castle bathroom... only it turns out to be false complaint when it was discovered the man was unsatisfied what $50 got him from his hooker. (Smoking Gun)

- Facebook Lawsuit: The strange lawsuit of the day goes to a teen in Arkansas who's suing his mother for changing the password to his Facebook account after she slandered him on the online community network. (KTLA)

- Conan and George: TBS certainly got a big boost today signing Conan O'Brien to host a late night show starting November. Somewhere, FOX executives can be heard cursing Ted Turner. (EW)

My Sassy Gay Friend

2010-04-12T13:20:00.002-04:00

Those hilarious folks at Chicago's Second City imagined what some classic Shakespeare play would be like if the heroines had a sassy girl friend. It's true, I always thought most females in Shakespeare's works were dumb as a brick.

My Amazing Race Rankings (Week 9)

2010-04-11T22:31:00.002-04:00

Whoa. Drama came into full force this week. As much as I dislike Brent & Caite and their more than idiotic move this week u-turning Brandy & Carol when the two strongest teams are still behind them, Brandy & Carol has to get over it and blame the game and not the players. It's very apparent now which half the remaining four teams are the stronger ones. Here's how I like 'em:

Love Jet. Love, love, love.

Very fortunate leg this time around. Flying completely under the radar.

The villains for season 16 are finally revealed...

... and they're playing these two dimwits who don't even know it.

Best Line: "The closest thing to an instrument I've ever played is a radio." - Jet

Smartest Move: Dan & Jordan beelining for the Fast Forward.

Dumbest Move: The before-mentioned Brent & Caite U-Turning Brandy & Carol instead of Team Cowboys or Team Detectives.

My Free Cupcakes

2010-04-10T15:23:00.003-04:00

I'm still in a tax mood. After owing taxes for five straight years, I'm getting money back from the IRS this year and it came in today! Yay! Anyway, Cinnabon is offering TWO FREE cupcakes on the 15th from 6pm-8pm as a tax relief. Are you thinking the same way I am and calculating how many Cinnabons you can hit up in a 2-hour span?

My Girly Trailers

2010-04-10T14:40:00.003-04:00

As summer blockbuster season starting earlier every year, an onslaught of trailers are released. Here are just a few that caught my attention:

Sex and The City 2: I watched SATC when it was TV the same way I watched 'The Simpsons', not a big fan by any means but I've seen all the episodes nonetheless. It's easy and fun. After the success of the first film, it was a no-brainer that a sequel was to come. I've always preferred Aiden over Mr. Big so John Corbett's appearance in this one will certainly hold me over from the dizzying desert scenes. ".. But with cocktails." Cute.

The Kids Are All Right: Enter this year's quirky, lighthearted independent film with prestige. I absolutely adore all the actors involved, everyone from Julianne Moore (slowly climbing my charts) to Josh Hutcherson ('Little Manhattan' is the best romcom set in NY last decade). Judging from the trailer, it seems like everyone is having a blast and I can't wait to join in on their fun as a "unconventional family".

Killers: Oh Katherine Heigl. How you annoy me. Since her cinematic breakout turn in 'Knocked Up', every romantic comedy Heigl's been, I found myself caring more about her male counterpart. James Marsden, Gerard Butler and even in this trailer, Ashton Kutcher. I mean, Ashton Kutcher! What's going on!?! Between this and 'Valentine's Day', can my opinion on the Punk'd one really be turning? Anyway, this film looks like 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith'-lite.

The Greatest: I love family dramas and this screams 'Ordinary People'. That along with my infatuation with Carey Mulligan should drive me to me catch this tearjerker.

My Brooklyn Apple Store

2010-04-09T17:44:00.005-04:00

I wouldn't go to the lengths of producing and starring in this cheesy video, but I totally agree with Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz when he made a request to Apple honcho Steve Jobs to place an Apple retail store in Brooklyn. I mean, STATEN ISLAND has one! Staten frickin' Island! How about putting one a block from Trader Joe's on Atlantic Avenue? I spent the whole day in Cobble Hill yesterday and totally loved it.

My Buried Life

2010-04-09T16:47:00.005-04:00

Can this be? A show on MTV that I can not only tolerate but also enjoy? The premise of four young guys crossing things off their bucket list while inspiring others to do so is a breath of very fresh air for this network. It's like watching episodes of 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' the way these guys manage to tug at heart strings on their course to complete their own adventurous list such as 'play ball with Barack Obama' while helping strangers complete more important tasks such as searching for their birth mother.

It's been awhile since I applaud MTV for their programming decisions but picking up this series for a second season is certainly a giant step away from the trashy side of reality television. Even Oprah was impressed with these guys and invited them to a recent taping of her talk show to share their story. Check out the group's Buried List.

My Asian Susan Boyle

2010-04-07T22:56:00.002-04:00

Yikes. God bless foreign reality singing competition for bringing us some amazing performances the contestants of 'American Idol' only wish they can fathom. Meet Lin Yu Chun, currently in Taiwan's 'Superstar Avenue' belt out the Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston classic "I Will Always Love You". While not pleasing to the eye, Lin who was nicknamed "Little Fatty" on the show is most definitely flexing his vocal muscles to his opponent who's evidently shaking in her boots. If you can't read or understanding Mandarin, just skip to the 1 minute mark.

My Asian Jersey Shore

2010-04-06T15:28:00.002-04:00

As if the original wasn't terrible already, casting notices were sent out seeking young Asian-Americans for a 'Jersey Shore'-type reality show set in Los Angeles. I can't remember the last time Asians made for popular American television. Have they not learned from Margaret Cho's short-lived series 'All-American Girl'? We're better suited as sidekicks or token spots on reality competition shows. Sigh. I wonder what catchy nicknames the lucky chosen ones would call themselves. My suggestions include 'Kimmy Chi', 'Peking Wang' and 'The Lobster Roll'. (NYP)

P.S.- I found the picture for this post by googling 'cool asian kids'.

My Liveblog of Julianne Moore's Return

2010-04-05T16:09:00.005-04:00

Julianne Moore's episode of 'As The World Turns' aired today so here's my little play-by-play of the episode of the cancelled soap.

:00 “Are we getting married or not?” Wow, some dramatic start. Even I know they’re going to get back together by the end of this episode. They’re not a market for ladies over 50 on soaps.

:02 OMG, it’s Matt Durning from the original 90210! I actually wanted him to end up with Kelly Taylor on that show. Anyway, back to this soap.. where’s Julianne Moore?

:04 Whoa. There’s someone under the age of 30 on this show and of course he’s the rebel who doesn’t believe in marriage since he was jaded by some chick name Alison. So, the name of the couple in jeopardy is Bob and Kim. 25 years, that must be an eternity on soaps.

:13 Flashbacks! What exactly did Bob do to deserve such a cold shoulder from Kim?

:14 Whoa. This stuttering, old lady is hitting on Bob! Skank, go away! So… where’s Julianne Moore!?!

:23 There seems to be a lot of infidelity in this town. This Bob guy sure has gotten around. This black and white decades old clip is a nice touch for what I can only assume is a tribute episode.

:28 We must be halfway through with the show, there’s a montage of characters from the show- most of which look like they fell out of an Abercrombie catalogue and are not on today’s episode.

:30 The jaded young one (Casey) wants his grandpa to tell his grandma she’s hot. The not so young one is telling Bob to “woo” Kim instead.

:31 More clips! This time with tweed jackets!

:34 Awww… Bob is “woo-ing” her with the help of some cliché soap opera writing and a resignation letter. Kim is starting to sound like Meredith Grey with her self-pity whining.

:37 There’s still 20 minutes left to the episode and Bob & Kim are back together. So what now? And more importantly, where the hell is Julianne Moore!?!!?

:42 What is the deal with all these ladies trying to get a piece of Bob? Oh, it’s just some master plan to make sure Bob wants to marry Kim.

:45 Awww, everyone has a happy ending on today’s episode. For a second there, I thought the back of Alison’s head was Julianne Moore’s. So… 15 minutes left, where is she?

:46 It’s a soap opera wedding! That means someone is going to die right?

:50 More cliché and pun-ny writing! Without Bob & Kim, the “world would be spinning off its axis.”

:51 It’s Julianne Moore! Hugging Bob! Yay!

:52 Followed by two very horny people in a bathroom.

:53 Hmm… that was a quickie. Someone’s busted. I must say these two intrigue me.

:54 Bob & Kim are Julianne Moore’s parents! More cliché and pun-ny dialogue with the words ‘World Turns’ in it.

:55 The preview for tomorrow shows nobody from today’s episode. Well, it was cool Julianne returned to the show, even if it’s all for 4 minutes. Hmm.. I hear Parker Posey and Meg Ryan used to be on this show too. Any chance of getting them on?

My Overhead on Easter

2010-04-05T10:45:00.001-04:00

On the F train: "Jesus was like the best zombie ever."

My Quickies (v.4.5.10)

2010-04-05T10:14:00.003-04:00

- High School Fantasy: Two teachers were caught naked together in the classroom while their students were in general assembly. Males students of James Madison High School were suddenly in favor of surveillance cameras in classrooms for their "protection". (NYD)

- Champion For A Day: Andy Roddick won the Sony Ericson Open in Florida this weekend in a tournament that included Federer and Nadal. I highly doubt he can carry this over to the clay courts next month, but good for him. (Yahoo)

- Kumar v. Obama: Kal Penn resigned his post as an aid to the Obama administration to reprise his role as Kumar in the 'Harold and Kumar' franchise. Wow. Is the economy that bad? (EW)

- Last Minute Replacement: Since Megan Mullally debunked 'Lips Together' from its premiere, the Roundabout Theatre called on to its off-Broadway success, 'Everyday Rapture', to take its place at the American Airlines Theatre. (Playbill)

- Heart Attack: KFC manages to invent a new way to induced cardiac arrest with their Double Down Sandwich. Yes, fried chicken filet instead of buns.... Sure, that has to be to good for me. (KFC)

- Blame The Gays, Not The Pedos: The newest defense of the Catholic Church in regards to priest molesting blind deaf boys is that since they were post-pubescent, it's no longer pedophilia- it's the homosexual tendencies, so blame the gays. I guess the best defense is a pathetic offense. (Gawker)

- Palin Inc.: Since moving on from Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin has slowly turned herself into a profitable brand in the political world. Great, another political opportunist in America. Yippee. (NYT)

- Brothers Broadcasting: I hope Aaron Boone learned from his brother's disastrous attempt as a baseball commentator in 2003 when ESPN signed him on to be part of the 'Baseball Tonight' team. (ESPN)

My Amazing Race Rankings (Week 8)

2010-04-05T00:17:00.005-04:00

Cowboy Up! Reigniting my faith in Jet & Cord, they've made all the right moves this week. Also, on a sidenote, does anyone else think Dan and Allie would make a cute couple? No? Just me? Anyway, here's how I like the remaining teams:

Stronger Player: At this point, I'm going to say Cord

Stronger Player: Pretty even, but I'm going to go with Jordan

Stronger Player: Undoubtedly Michael. Undoubtedly.

Stronger Player: Slight edge to Carol.

Stronger Player: Brent would win this battle of the airheads.

Line Of The Night: "She calls them daddies."- Brent referring to how Caite calls Team Detectives

Smartest Move: Jet & Cord going straight for the balance poles.

Dumbest Move: Dan & Jordan, Steve & Allie getting out of their cabs at the first sign of traffic.

My Misleading Frontpage

2010-04-03T12:36:00.002-04:00

Upon seeing this on the frontpage of the New York Times webpage, I thought another tragedy had struck somewhere in the world causing people to once again ponder in silence and grievance. After reading a couple of words, I started laughing. The cause for this somber photo? Well...

Kinda pathetic, isn't it?

My Tina Fey/Steve Carell Combo

2010-04-03T10:09:00.003-04:00

I have a much higher interest in watching Tina Fey and Steve Carell talk to each other for 90 minutes than I do of them in an action comedy together. I want ~~Liz Lemon~~ Tina Fey to be my best friend. Case in point:

It almost makes me want to watch their movie later this month.

My New Director/New Film Festival

2010-04-02T15:46:00.001-04:00

A few nights after my first visit at ND/NF this year, I was invited to a screening of the film chosen for closing night and its after party. Unlike my rather disorienting reaction to Monday's show, it was clear I was not only emotionally invested but applaud director Xavier Dolan's freshman effort in I Killed My Mother, the Canadian submission to this year's Academy Awards. As complex as it is brilliant, the journey of one relationship between a teenager and his mother is sure to be relevant in some variation to anyone who ever had an argument with their mother.

Being a semi-autobiography, the 20-year old (!!!) Dolan crafted this impressive tale that I wished I had the ability to write down such heartbreaking moments. At the after party, my friend and I were hoping to meet the dapper dressed Dolan to congratulate, who also starred in the film, but alas... he was whisked away somewhere by John Cameron Mitchell and never returned.

Sidenote: Alice Tully Hall turned out to be one gorgeous facility.

My 2010 Baseball Predictions

2010-04-01T12:20:00.003-04:00

Ah. It's that time again. Spring training is almost over and another long baseball season is about to start. So of course, that means I'll be making my season predictions. I got 6 out of the 8 playoff teams correct last season and missing the eventual champions. As usual, so many questions are going to be answered in six months. Will the Mets have another colossal collapse? Will the Angels continue to run the table in the weak AL West division? And of course, can the Yankees repeat as championship or the will be Red Sox's off season moves be enough? Here we go.

American League:

1. New York Yankees (AL East Champions)

2. Los Angeles Angels (AL West Champions)

3. Detroit Tigers (AL Central Champions)

4. Boston Red Sox (AL Wild Card)

ALDS: Yankees over Tigers, Angels over Red Sox

ALCS: Angels over Yankees

The biggest question mark for me is the AL Central. Which scrappy team will have enough to make it to the division series just to lose in the first round? Since the Twin's Joe Nathan is gone for the season, I'm going to go with the Tigers.

National League:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West)

2. St. Louis Cardinals (NL Central)

3. Philadelphia Phillies (NL East)

4. Atlanta Braves (NL Wild Card)

NLDS: Dodgers over Braves, Phillies over Cardinals

NLCS: Phillies over Dodgers

I have the Phillies going to their third straight World Series. And in a surprise move, I think the Braves will return to the postseason courtesy of the Mets imploding again late in the game. Dodgers and Cardinals should be shoo-ins by June.

World Series: Phillies over Angels

For the second straight year, I'm going to predict the Phillies as the eventual champions. On paper, this team seems very strong and after taking a beating in a tough NL East, I think they should coast in October.

My 20-Minute Laugh Of The Day

2010-04-01T10:21:00.001-04:00

This is the only time Justin Bieber will entertain me.

My Quickies (v.3.30.10)

2010-03-31T06:24:00.004-04:00

- 'Upwards' Indeed: Zoe Lister-Jones couldn't be any sweeter when we worked together on a feature a few years ago and I'm happy that her $15,000(!!!!) budget film is getting high praise. (NYT)

- Leading Killer: Does it really surprise anyone that China led the world last year in executions? It also shouldn't surprise anyone that ~~Texas~~ the United States led the field in the Americas. (NYT)

- Confusing Ad: It's reported that a 30-second commercial spot during the series finale of 'Lost' will cost $900,000. No word if there's a criteria for the ads to be frustratingly confusing. (EW)

- Completely 'Normal': Upon hearing it recoup its initial $4 million investment, 'Next To Normal' is launching a nationwide tour later this year. I'll hound everyone about it when more details are released. (Playbill)

- LOL @ MTA: The Working Family group is planning to unleash a series of ads parodying Subway notices to get mayor Michael Bloomberg's attention to act on his campaign promise to fix the MTA. The MTA is not amused, but the millions of daily commuters sure are. (NYD)

- Oklahoma Fail: In an attempt to pass a bill stripping hate crimes against gays and lesbians, Oklahoma lawmakers cited the wrong section of the US code. So they'll no longer prosecute anyone who acts violently because of someone's "race, color, religion or national origin." MEGA FAIL, Oklahoma! (ThinkProgress)

- Livin' La Vida Loca: Speaking of gay, Ricky Martin is out. As if we haven't known for ten years. (People)

- Mean Girls: An Irish immigrant teenager in a small town in Massachusetts committed suicide after months of heckling and bullying from her classmates. A truly sad story, the tight-knit community is demanding answers who school officials failed to intercept the well-known bullying acts. (NYD)

My Latest Woody Allen Flick

2010-03-31T05:57:00.003-04:00

For the better part of this decade, Woody Allen has good days ('Match Point', 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona') and bad ones ('Whatever Works'). So when word comes around saying he has a project four years in development, a rarity for someone who loves to write and shoot, I'm kinda expecting this to be epic. If the casting is any indication, I shouldn't be disappointed with the Paris-based film. Say hello to Marion Cotillard (who Audrey Tautou must despise by now), Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson. Can't wait! (Variety)

My Telephone

2010-03-31T05:32:00.003-04:00

Here are five thoughts I had while watching Lady Gaga's latest ~~short film~~ music video 'Telephone' featuring Beyonce:

1. I must be intruding on some awesome exclusive lesbian dance party.

2. Lady Gaga would not make a good TV chef.

3. I've never seen Beyonce so nervous in my life.

4. I want soda cans in my hair as well.

5. "kinda busy... kinda busy."

My Happiest Girl In The World

2010-03-30T10:37:00.009-04:00

At last night's New Directors/New Films festival screening of the Romanian film, The Happiest Girl In The World, I found myself surprised by the content of the international festival hit. Given the premise of:

"When a plucky provincial duckling of a young lady wins a contest, she must travel with her parents to the buzzing metropolis of Bucharest to claim her prize."

I was expecting a tamer version of 'Little Miss Sunshine', the unexpected twist of the prize being a cameo for a commercial made this film much too real for me. Set against the backdrop of a commercial shoot, our heroine must navigate her needs against her parent's and also deal with the cruel world of commercial production. While it doesn't have the sharpest script, I couldn't look away because both me and my friend are very familiar with this nonsense world. In fact, at various points of the film, it was cringe worthy how painfully real the portrayals of commercial agencies and clients' set behavior were. It was just a relief to see the rest of the audience laugh at the absurdity of what goes on just to remind me we weren't sitting in on someone's cruel joke.

My Amazing Race Rankings (Week 7)

2010-03-28T23:35:00.003-04:00

You have NO IDEA how much I cheered at the end of this week's episode. The cowboys continue to ride and hopefully we'll get to hear that country song Jet is fixin' to write. If that doesn't resurge my love for that team, I don't know what will. Anyway, here's how I love 'em:

Jet's my favorite player. If only they paid more attention next leg.

Have they ran a subpar race yet? I don't think so.

About time these two brothers came in second place.

Oh, how the equalizer proved the last three races were a fluke.

Lucky, how very lucky.

The first decent race they've completed, even if it's mistake-filled.

Best Line of The Night: "I'm not going until Phil tells us we're eliminated." - Cord

Smartest Move: Steve and Allie decide not to go back for their bags.

Dumbest Move: Jet & Cord forgetting to get the bottle off the boat.

My Quickies (v.3.28.10)

2010-03-28T05:09:00.002-04:00

- Xtina Gaga: The cover art for Christina Augilera's much anticipated 'Bionic' album was released this week. I guess when Gaga's hot, everyone should try to cash in on it.

- 'Bulls Hit: The gorgeous New York Red Bulls Arena officially opened its doors last night in Harrison, NJ. The aesthetics of the riverfront soccer stadium rivals most of its European counterparts. (Red Bulls)

- 'Strike' Out: The latest MTA worker strike (this time due to funds being cut) caused many delays Friday morning in Queens, prompting many unhappy customers who at the time certainly don't mind the layoffs. (NYD)

- Party Over in the USA: Miley Cyrus declares after her album drops this summer, she's done with music and will concentrate more on films. So now you have to pay $12 to get your Hannah Montana fix. (E!)

- Hogwarts Comes Alive: The grand opening for the 'Wizarding World of Harry Potter' at Universal Studios is set for June 18th. So be prepared to see a lot of muggles dressed as wizards a week in advance. (Official Site)

- The Final Countdown: After eight season, FOX says the current of '24' will be its last. I still remember the days of '24' marathons in college. Gone are the days of Sherry Palmer, Kyle Singer & cougar traps in the woods. (EW)

- Dead Possum Society: A Pennsylvania man was arrested while trying to resuscitate a dead possum. The intoxicated man was said to have mistaken him for Punxsutawney Phil. (NYD)

- Disgruntled Diva: So the reason Megan Mullally quit the Broadway show 2 weeks before previews appears to be that she ~~has her nose up her butt~~ failed to convince the producers of the show to fire her costar, Patton Oswalt. (NYT)

My Netflix Wii

2010-03-27T19:56:00.002-04:00

Yay! It's here and it works! With the low monthly cost of Netflix and the price of movie tickets increasing, it looks like I'm going to go on a movie binge at home for a little while until a truly event film gets released in theaters.

My Overrated Films

2010-03-27T07:09:00.004-04:00

Premiere Online released their list of 20 films that are the most overrated. Though I have to do some hardcore Myspace search to see my personal list from five years ago, I think I remember them pretty well. Looking over the magazine's list, I pretty much have to disagree with every single one of the films that I saw. Of course it's all subjective, but having the likes of classic old Hollywood films such as 'Gone With The Wind' and 'The Wizard of Oz' seems like too much of a shock value than an actual productive list.

My Not So Bond-Like Behavior

2010-03-27T06:43:00.004-04:00

Reason #80 Why I'm Not Badass: Did a Sean Connery accent that sounded Mexican for 10 minutes on a date.

My 42nd Street Ballroom

2010-03-26T22:53:00.003-04:00

I've always known but my least favorite place on the island of Manhattan is the Port Authority Bus Terminal. What is it about Greyhound stations that makes them so gross and ghetto? But in mist of this disgusting, confusing building lays a treasured structure. I remember as kid, for whatever reason I had to be at the PABT, I would stare at the 42nd Street Ballroom until I was told to we had to go.

Similar to the boardgame 'Mousetrap' and a labyrinth, the 42nd Street Ballroom structure rotates pool balls in a maze of knick-knacks. Everything from a spiral down to bouncing off xylophone panels, the structure was mesmerizing to watch. Keyword being was. This glimmer of light in the hell hole no longer functions and made me early morning trip today much more miserable than it already was. Someone needs to fix this. If not for my childhood memory than for any tragic human soul that has to cross that building every single day.

My Quickies (v.3.26.10)

2010-03-26T05:42:00.004-04:00

- Tix Goes Up: This is just insane. I will not pay $20 to see a movie. Ever. I guess I won't be training any dragons this weekend. (CBS)

- Angry White Powder: I guess Anthony Weiner (D-NY) got off easy compared to his fellow Democrats. I'll take an envelope of powdered chalk over smashed windows and voicemails telling me to die any day. (TPM)

- Fifth Starter: The drama finally ends for Yankee fans when skipper Joe Girardi named Phil Hughes the squad's fifth starter when the season opens in less than 10 days. Bring on baseball! (ESPN)

- Oddest Protest Of The Day: A group of devoted fans of a popular gay couple on 'One Life To Live' will rally in front of 'Good Morning America' today to protest the soap's firing of the actors who portray the couple last week. (Facebook)

- Jack Sauce: It's great to have an episode of '30 Rock' with Floyd again. It's the only time I like Jason Sudekis. Consider me on team Fliz! (Hulu)

- Awards Season: Not even a month after the Oscars, the AMPAS announced their calendar for next year's kudosfest. Just please don't bring back Shankman & Mechanic, I don't think I can handle that mess again. (Oscars)

- Mercury Poisoning?: Megan Mullally's abrupt exit for a Broadway play two weeks before previews caused the cancellation of the entire production. How Karen of her. (Playbill)

- Helm Rush: California's latest idea to cut the state's deficit is to legalize marijuana and then taxing it. I guess it would be easier to tell people you're taking more money from them when they're stoned. (NYT)

My Celebrity Crush Of The Month (v.3.25.10)

2010-03-25T05:29:00.003-04:00

As promised, it's back. My ridiculous obsession with random famous folks will continue once again. Before we move on to this year's "lucky ones", let's do a quick recap of last year's selection of 'Celebrity Crush of The Month':

January 2009- Rebecca Hall, 27, actress

February 2009- Will Chase, 30, actor

March 2009- Joseph Cotten, deceased, actor

April 2009- Nora Arnezeder, 22, actress

May 2009- Ellie Frederickson, deceased, inspiration

June 2009- Roger Federer, 29, athlete

July 2009- Jake Silbermann, 26, actor

August 2009- Melanie Laurent, 27, actress

September 2009- Brett Gardner, 26, athlete

October 2009- N/A

November 2009- N/A

December 2009- N/A

Okay, here goes this year's batch so far:

January 2010: Carey Mulligan, 24, actress

How can anyone not fall in love with her after 'An Education'? Not to mention her grace as she makes her way through the tough award circuit was delightful to see.

February 2010: Jeremy Renner, 39, actor

Macho and sensible, the entire "happy to be here" smug never fails to charm- how very different from Sgt. William James, or is it?

March 2010: Ewan McGregor, 38, actor

An old favorite is back to show that his charisma never went away in double features. Also, for putting George Stephanopoulos in his place.

So come on back towards the end of next month to see who captured my time in the non-reality world.

My Jail Playground

2010-03-25T04:55:00.005-04:00

This could've easily been prevented. A series of "jail-themed" playgrounds in Bedford-Stuyvesant are causing an obvious uproar. After numerous complaints how this is the only neighborhood in New York City with these specifically designed playgrounds, the city finally agreed to do a massive overhaul in removing them in the predominantly African-American neighborhood.

To be honest, I didn't think it was a big deal but this is obviously one of those instances where these playgrounds should've never been built in the first place. Are you kidding me? Why even do something remotely controversial to something as non-trivial as a neighborhood playground? It's simply asking for trouble. I feel like I'm watching another Leslie Knope adventure in an episode of 'Parks and Recreation'. (NYDN)

My Life In Film: Movie Meme

2010-03-24T09:18:00.004-04:00

Andrew over at Encore's World of Film & TV started an interactive blog session that I'm more than glad to partake. What's the aim of the game you ask? See if you can figure it out. It's not that hard. I actually encourage you to try.

Gender: The Thin Man

Describe Yourself: Spellbound

How Do You Feel Right Now: Forever Young

Where Do You Live: Brooklyn's Finest

What's The Weather Like There: One Fine Day

Where Would You Like To Go Right Now: Across The Universe

What's Your Biggest Fear: Ordinary People

Your Life's A Film, Give It A Name: A League of Their Own

What Will You Be Doing Today: Crimes and Misdemeanors

Give Us A Piece of Advice: Whatever Works

My Gleeful Normality

2010-03-24T01:42:00.004-04:00

Combining two of the best things ever- 'Glee' and 'Next To Normal'. It's as if they made this just for me. Thanks Carlsbad High School, now this N2N obsession is never going to die.

My (?) Nets

2010-03-23T20:06:00.002-04:00

ESPN's Seth Everett asks a very interesting questions:

"Should the upcoming Nets team be called the New York Nets or the Brooklyn Nets when they move to the Atlantic Yards?"

For me, a native Brooklynite, the answer is simple. While I understand the potential financial benefits of naming the team New York, the stigma of having the only professional team in the US named after a region of a city is too great. I mean, c'mon, everybody knows Brooklyn. There's a sense of pride and history that goes with the name. I'd automatically be more interested in rooting for the Nets just because the name gives them more of an identity.

I wouldn't go overboard and rename the team Brooklyn Gothams (a la Houston Texans), but I do think after all the political hoopla that went into bringing the Nets to Brooklyn, if it isn't named for the borough- watch for more uproar on this already controversial move.

My Blog Referrals

2010-03-23T19:06:00.004-04:00

It's been awhile (months?) since I've found new blogs to add to my daily reading, but this week I was referred to three different new obsessions by friends, friends of friends or just serendipitous happenstance. And of course, they're all entertainment based. Ch-ch-check 'em out:

Couchtime

- A detailed go-to guide for some of my favorite shows including my current obsession 'The Amazing Race'. Fun, light and with a point of view eerily similar to mine, blogger Jill's weekly recap of individual episodes (and events) is a must read.

He Who Laughs

- Combining love for theatre, television and film, blogger Isaac already has a cult following large enough to start his own theatrical event (and did!). Injecting sarcasm and hilarity in every entry, the short format blog (my favorite kind) will no doubt continue to be part of my daily read.

Running From Camera

- A simple photography concept. Pressing the 2-second timer on a digital camera and then running away from it as fast as you can! Genius! While inspiring fan entries, the original "hit and run" lenser still does it best.

My Amazing Race Rankings (Week 6)

2010-03-21T23:47:00.002-04:00

Well, we're one team away from eliminating all the weaklings. I'd be very surprised if Brent and Caite are still together after all this is over. Also, the tourism division in France needs to give better direction... or just the correct ones. Anyway, here's how I like 'em:

They're still my personal favorites, but I'm starting to doubt their chances.

Steve is slowly becoming my hero.

Very slowly coming around to liking these baffoons. Maybe someone should teach them a lesson.

They better shape up. If Brent & Caite catches a break, they're easily done.

Let's see how they'll fair the next time they're faced with a tough challenge...

... case in point, these two annoying people.

Best Line of the Night: "My wife says duct tape can fix anything."- Steve

Smartest Move: Steve and Allie NOT calling for that second car when theirs can be easily fixed.

Dumbest Move: Dan and Jordan choosing to do the champaign tower dropping them four spots.

My Wrong Demographic

2010-03-20T16:23:00.001-04:00

Sorry Facebook, this ad was catered to the wrong audience. Don't ya know I'm Asian?

My Michael Sheen Appreciation

2010-03-19T20:02:00.002-04:00

Between his recent visit to Craig Ferguson (so underrated) and his current stint on '30 Rock', I've grown to like Mr. Sheen even more. Now, can someone cast him in something that doesn't require the man to be either Tony Blair or a vampire?

My Famous Homeless Man

2010-03-18T22:50:00.002-04:00

Not sure if I should file this under funny, sad or both. There's currently a Chinese internet celebrity roaming the streets on Ningbo, China. He looks the part of a Williamsburg burnout, but the thing is- he's homeless. A pedestrian snapped a picture of 5'8 man and post it on the internet, gushing about his good looks and great sense of style and before you know it, he's the newest internet sensation. He's even started a new fashion trend.

Getting the nickname "Brother Sharp", he has since been followed by more residents, as if they were the paparazzi and he's the celebrity. Catching his every move, what he eats (trash off the street), where he hangs out (back alleys) and who he hangs out with (no one, he's a lone drifter). When the Chinese authorities tried to track him down, "Brother Sharp" is so psychologically disturbed that he refuses and continues on his merry way. You tell me, does he look like he just walked off the runway? (Independent)

My March Madness Predictions

2010-03-18T17:21:00.005-04:00

Yes, I realize I'm about four hours too late but hey... better get these in before I take at peek a the winners thus far.

East Region (Syracuse)- While almost everyone has Kentucky getting out of this region alive, I'm going to go with the pesky West Virginia Mountaineers who got shafted out of a #1 seed in favor of Duke. I like their style of play and also, unlike most of the pundits out there, I'm not buying Cornell as this year's sleeper. I see them getting ousted in the first round. Let's not good looking for hidden treasures now, folks.

South Region (Houston)- Perhaps it's due to my hatred towards Duke, but I'm banking on another Big East team advance to the final four in the form of Villanova. Their guards are speedy- even Obama says so. Sleeper hit in the region includes Old Dominion and Siena.

Midwest Region (St. Louis)- You might as well hand this one over to the overall #1 seed Kansas. I don't see any team in this region giving them problem maybe besides Georgetown, but they would have to get through Ohio State first before doing so. Upset special: Georgia Tech over Oklahoma State.

West Region (Salt Lake City)- It's a tossup between Kansas State and Syracuse, but I'm going to give in pick the Orangemen even when they're on a decline. I just think they have a tougher road to the Elite Eight with the possibility of playing Gonzaga, Vanderbilt and Butler and will catch Kansas State offguard.

National Champions: Yes, the best team in the nation will prevail this year again. Kansas Jayhawks it is.

My Last Kyle Dean Massey Vlog

2010-03-18T02:09:00.004-04:00

From the moment he first permanently replaced Aaron Tveit as Gabe in the Tony-winning musical 'Next To Normal', Kyle Dean Massey was asked to carry a camcorder around backstage to show the audience random tidbits that goes on on a daily basis at the Booth Theater. After 11 vlog entries, Kyle Dean is powering down for the last time but not before sharing some of more "useful" information.

As a huge fan of the musical (it's currently sitting pretty as #2 on my all-time list and slowly climbing), it's fun to see what goes on and doesn't go on before, during and after the show. I mean, could you imagine climbing 666 steps of stairs eight times a week!?! Nutty. I guess I've been spoiled by Kyle Dean's vlogs and now I must fork over another $65 bucks if I want to relive my obsession with the only stage production that has ever made me tear up.

Check out all the vlog entries here.

My Ewan McGregor Double Feature

2010-03-17T19:53:00.003-04:00

It has been awhile since I've seen a film with Ewan McGregor as a lead. This week, I got the chance to two- last year's 'The Men Who Stared At Goats" and the currently limited release "The Ghost Writer". While both films have their issues, I'm so glad to see Ewan put in two different but solid performances. Can't wait for the hopeful third when "I Love You, Philip Morris" drops next month.

Speaking of which, the "Celebrity Crush Of The Month" feature will be back.

My Bay Area Stay In Five Pictures

2010-03-16T17:48:00.004-04:00

... one for each day I was there.

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

It's hard to believe this is just 10 minutes from downtown SF.

Possibly my favorite picture from the trip.

Fame and historic Castro Theatre on Castro Street.

Of course, the wine caves. Oh, the wine...

My Flying Picture

2010-03-15T22:07:00.003-04:00

It's amazing how you can now blog 10,000 feet above ground (I'm currently above Chicago). After another 10-day trip in two states and 4 cities, I'm on my way home just in time for St. Patrick's Day! Yowza!

My Amazing Race Rankings (Week 5)

2010-03-15T19:47:00.003-04:00

The best episode of the season so far and back to the elimination format and some tidbits:

At this point, It'd take a lot for me to knock these cowboys off the top of my list.

They're finally behaving like brothers. Jordan should have his own show.

Finally some screentime time for the silent killer team!

Very bold move this week.

Why are they still complaining!?!

Only because Jeff & Jordan annoys the daylights out of me.

Go home, please.

Best Line Of The Night: "Wow. Those are some mean lesbians."- Caite

Smartest Move: Louie & Michael u-turning Joe and Heidi.

Dumbest Move: Brent and Caite skipping another clue! It's only episode five.

My Shadow of a Doubt

2010-03-13T18:03:00.005-05:00

When I realized I was going to be staying in Santa Rosa, CA for a few days, the setting of one of my favorite films, Shadow of a Doubt, I immediately made it a point to check out a few of the key locations used in the Hitchcock classic.

The first of which is the Newton residence. The house is pretty much the same as it was over 60 years ago- down to the detailed garage doors.

Then:

Now:

Then, of course, is onto the the famed Santa Rosa train station for the climatic scene. The station is now a visitor center for the city where a very knowledgeable historian proceeded to point out the rest of the landmarks from the film including where the grand library used to be before an earthquake caused its demise.

My BSB Joyride

2010-03-11T12:54:00.001-05:00

Reason #33 Why I'm Not Badass: Jamming to BSB while driving down the 101.

My FSU Campus Walk

2010-03-08T17:24:00.004-05:00

It's always weird going "home". Here's my observance of an empty campus.

Former location of my last residence. They've since bulldozed that building and constructed this fortress.

Also, renaming the street to "Learning Way". It'll always be Wildwood Drive to me.

There's actually a bus service that circulates the campus now. You can tell because there's a confusing map every 20 feet.

Wescott Building is still as gorgeous as ever.

I always thought Circle K was just a gas station.

It was as if the loner flyer on the empty bulletin board was summoning me.

My first Tallahassee home- Gilchrist Hall

Landis Green aka 'Lawn Where Girls With Low Esteem Sunbathes in Bikinis'

My Worst Oscars Telecast Ever

2010-03-08T16:57:00.003-05:00

I'm sad to report that I was right. More on the disastrous Shankman/Mechanic production in future days because I need the time to recover from all the vomiting inducing "organic dancing" and redundant bias towards the lead acting categories oppose to the supporting ones. Don't even get me started on the abrupt ending to the ceremony. Okay, too late... the floodgates have opened. Here's what went wrong:

- Why was Neil Patrick Harris there? He was successful on both the Tonys and Emmys because he's relevant for stage and television. Here? It already looks desperate on the producer's count.

- We're then greeted by the 10 LEAD acting nominees, by name. One by one. Like this is some deranged Miss America competition.

- The awkward opening from Baldwin and Martin that namedropped everyone in the room.. twice. Thank goodness for George Clooney whose facial expression mirrored mine in how silly and trite it was.

- The organic dancing. They scrapped the original song performances for this!?! I wasn't aware of the Oscars when Snow White & Rob Lowe went on, but this has got to be a new performance low.

- By hour two, Shankman & Mechanic realized that their show is running long and started scrapping clips and showing nominees on categories. If only they were smart enough not to show a montage clip reel for the first four categories on the evening.

- Forgetting Farah Fawcett. Any questions regarding Shankman's sexual orientation were answered during the 'In Memoriam' segment by that painful omission.

- The lamps wall was terrible. It looked and felt cheap.

- They devoted 30 minutes to the lead acting categories and pretty much set no timer for the winner's acceptance speech. It was evidence Shankman & Mechanic knew what they wanted to air and in no circumstances were going to cut it.

- Therefore Tom Hanks had to RUN to his mark and announce the Best Picture winner without even recapping who's nominated.

- With all the talk about the first woman ever to win the Best Director trophy, where's the promo and tease for the first Black writer to win a screenplay award? Even Kathryn Bigelow seemed embarrassed by all the hoopla. Did they really have to play her off with "I Am Woman"?

- FOUR hours.... and it still felt rushed.

My Amazing Race Rankings (Week 4)

2010-03-08T16:27:00.003-05:00

Another week, but a whole new continent. Oh, how nice was it to see a new scenic background after spending three weeks in the countryside of Chile and Argentina. Per usual, here's how I like 'em:

Best Line of The Night: "This guy would've typed it in his GPS and we would've ended up in Switzerland." - Jeff
Smartest Move: Team Detectives pairing up with Team Cowboys and some of their good luck charms rubbed off.
Dumbest Move: Girl Jordan covering her ears while nibbling on the sauerkraut proving she's not to be an American ambassador to Germany anytime soon.